1966 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport Zagato 2.8 3C

Italian industrialist Carlo Pesenti inherited the family cement company Italcementi in 1946. Pesenti was also a car enthusiast and took over the Lancia company from the Lancia family in June 1956 whilst the Aurelia was in production.

A new generation of engineers arrived with the Pesenti era which sidelined the great Vittorio Jano. Pesenti tasked Antonio Fessia with the replacement for the Aurelia, to be named Flaminia. The new car was a refinement of the Aurelia concept retaining the V6 engine layout and rear-mounted transaxle/transmission, although the traditional Lancia sliding-pillar suspension arrangement was discontinued and replaced by coil springs and wishbones.

The production Flaminia saloon was designed by Pininfarina and was launched at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show. Initially the new model was equipped with drum brakes and optional discs but soon disc brakes would be standardised.

In addition to the four-door Berlina the Flaminia spawned a Pininfarina two-door coupe based on Pininfarina’s exquisite Florida II prototype, plus a coupe and two-seat convertible by Touring. The most sporting model was the Flaminia Sport by Zagato.

To allow future increases in capacity a new all-alloy engine block was cast. The new engine initially had a 2.5 litre capacity, later growing to 2.8 litres in the ultimate Flaminia, the Super Sport Zagato.

The Super Sport Zagato featured three carburettors, disc brakes and increased power and was good for around 130mph. Aesthetically the Super Sport featured a new and distinctive ‘Kamm tail’ treatment to the rear of the body.

Chassis 326.233.002052 believed to be one of only two or three factory right-hand drive Super Sport Zagatos built. This extremely rare car is probably the only example delivered new to the UK and features Zagato’s signature double-bubble roof.

The original logbook is on file and confirms the car was first registered on 18th January 1966 to Lancia Concessionaires, Lancia Works, Alperton, Middlesex. No build sheets exist for Flaminia Zagatos but the engine number 2061 stated on the buff logbook from 1966 corresponds with the engine currently in the car.

By March 1968 the car was registered to John Young of Partington, Cheshire and later in 1968 was registered to Camden Motors Ltd. of Leighton Buzzard before being acquired later in 1968 by Terence Crow of London Colney, Herts.

In 1972 the Flaminia was purchased by long-term owner William Dick of Watford. In September 1990 Mr. Dick entrusted well-known Lancia specialist Peter Harding to carry out a partial refurbishment which included an engine rebuild, rebuild of the oil pump, repairs to the bonnet frame and battery box floor, replacement brake servo and master cylinder, rebuild of the brake calipers and fitting of a new exhaust system.

In 2001 Mr. Dick sent the Flaminia to UK Lancia specialists Omicron of Norwich for a more in-depth restoration. The body was stripped to bare metal and any corrosion repaired before a thorough coating of Waxoyl was applied to the underside. Trim items were re-chromed and any missing parts sourced or fabricated.

The engine was removed, stripped and rebuilt. The bores were honed and the crankshaft reground, new valve guides were fitted to the cylinder head, the inlet valves resurfaced and exhaust valves replaced. The dynamo was rebuilt with new bearings and a replacement oil and water thermostats fitted.

The gearbox was removed and declared fit and healthy. The brake calipers were removed, cleaned, lubricated and refitted and a new handbrake cable was installed along with new subframe bushes and track rod ends. The brake reservoir, master cylinder and servo were also stripped and rebuilt.

The fuel tank was drained, cleaned and sealed and a new fuel filter gauze fitted. New breather pipes and filler neck seal were installed and the tank painted and refitted. The electrical wiring was cleaned and tidied and new headlamps fitted.

The car was then sent to the Cedric's Coach Trimming of Norwich for a full retrim in red leather and blue carpet.

Shortly after completion in 20016 the car was sold to Michel Gue of Norwich (and USA) who instructed Omicron to recommission the car which included minor body repairs and an MOT test.

The Flaminia was then acquired by the current owners in 2007 who in 2018 commissioned a bare-metal body restoration.

The restored aluminium body was finished in Lancia Blu Diplomatico and invoices from the time show additional work such as valve adjustment, carburettor work, oil and filter change as well as re-chroming of the front and rear bumpers. Invoices for this work total over 60,000 euro.

Since its latest restoration the car has completed trips to Italy and Hamburg and in January 2019 was exhibited at InterClassics in Maastricht, Holland.

This very rare and beautiful RHD Flaminia Super Sport remains in superb condition having covered fewer than 4,000 miles since its 2001 restoration and engine rebuild and less than 3,000 miles since its 2018 bare-metal body restoration.

The car is now offered for sale complete with an extensive history file containing invoices, MOT certificates, correspondences, original logbook and is still registered to its original number JLK 4D.